This course introduces students to the fundamentals of software development with a substantial group software project at its center. Major foci are data structures, object oriented programming, and an introduction to software engineering. Students will extend their understanding of software productivity tools, using revision control for group work, and be introduced to test-driven development as an integral part of software construction.
Students will be introduced to an industrial strength object oriented programming language, extending their understanding of the imperative programming paradigm with a solid grounding in object oriented programming. Inheritance, polymorphism, and parametric types are taught, as well as concepts such as boxing and auto boxing. The important role of standard libraries and their collection types will be emphasized. GUI programming will be introduced.
The course includes a deeper treatment of data structures, using hash tables, trees and lists, which are used to provide concrete implementations of abstract library collection types. The theory of data structures and their time and space complexity will thus be tied to the practice of using standard collections such as those offered by object oriented languages.
The foundations of software engineering including: major development paradigms (such as big plan up front, agile, and formal methods), risk are introduced.
The Advanced version of this course covers these topics in more depth, allowing students to deepen their understanding and experience.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply fundamental programming concepts, using an object oriented programming language, to solve substantial problems
- Understand basic types and the benefits of static typing for object oriented programs
- Distinguish language definition from implementation, syntax and parsing from semantics and evaluation, understand how program state maps to memory (globals, local, heap), and understand the implications of heap reachability for memory management
- Develop, understand, test, and evolve substantial programs using a modern IDE, and associated configuration tools; understand common coding errors and how to avoid them; practice fundamental defensive programming; perform individual and team program reviews; use established design principles to organize a software system
- Use, implement, and evaluate fundamental data structures and associated algorithms; create, implement, debug, and evaluate algorithms for solving substantial problems, including recursively, using divide-and-conquer, and via decomposition; implement an abstract data type
- Apply basic algorithmic analysis to simple algorithms; use appropriate algorithmic approaches to solve problems (brute-force, divide-and-conquer, recursive backtracking, heuristic)
- Understand the basics of event-driven programming, and its use in constructing GUIs
- Deliver and evaluate basic technical documents, presentations, and group interactions, using appropriate tools
Recommended Resources
Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.
ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:
- written comments
- verbal comments
- feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.
Other Information
The course website is the main point starting point for course material and information (wattle will only be used for displaying marks and access to echo360 recordings). Note that this website is shared between semesters and co-badged course codes. It will only be updated to reflect information specific to the upcoming semester in the weeks leading up to start of the semester.
This course will perform similarity checks on source code submitted for assessment, for the purposes of identifying possible breaches of the academic integrity principles.
Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | |
| 2 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | |
| 3 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | |
| 4 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | Deliverables D1A, D2A; Lab Test LT ( see course website ) |
| 5 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2B; Competency Hurdle BC ( see course website ) |
| 6 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | |
| 7 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2C ( see course website ) |
| 8 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2D ( see course website ) |
| 9 | Lectures and lab ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2E ( see course website ) |
| 10 | Lectures ( see course website ) | |
| 11 | Lectures ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2F ( see course website ) |
| 12 | Lectures ( see course website ) | Deliverable D2G ( see course website ) |
Tutorial Registration
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignment (A1) -- Redeemable | 5 % | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Group Assignment (A2) | 30 % | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Class Engagement (CE) -- Redeemable | 5 % | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Lab Test (LT) -- Redeemable | 5 % | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Basic Competency Test (BC) | 0 % | 1, 4 |
| Final Exam (E) | 55 % | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:
- Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
- Code of practice for teaching and learning
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.
Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.
Participation
Students are expected to attend all weekly labs, which are an essential element of the course. At each lab students will receive a lab engagement mark which contributes to the class engagement mark (CE). Additionally, the major assignment has minor deliverables due at many of the scheduled labs, and you will need to be present for those.
Examination(s)
The course has a final exam at the end of semester (E). It is an online auto-graded exam comprising programming tasks and multiple choice questions. The final exam has a 40% hurdle requirement.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4
Individual Assignment (A1) -- Redeemable
This is a small individual programming assignment to be completed early in the semester consisting of a single deliverable D1A. This assessment is redeemable via your final exam, meaning you will receive either the mark for this assessment or the weighted score in your final exam, whichever is higher.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Group Assignment (A2)
This is a major group assignment with multiple deliverables D2A through to D2G throughout the semester. Details published on gitlab after the completion of the Individual Assignment (A1).
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4
Class Engagement (CE) -- Redeemable
A small number of marks are awarded for class engagement. These marks are based on engagement in your lab. This assessment is redeemable via your final exam, meaning you will receive either the mark for this assessment or the weighted score in your final exam, whichever is higher.
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4
Lab Test (LT) -- Redeemable
Early in semester you will be assessed via an in-lab practical test. The purpose of this test is to ensure that you have attained basic familiarity with the tools used in this class, and can write simple programs. This assessment is redeemable via your final exam, meaning you will receive either the mark for this assessment or the weighted score in your final exam, whichever is higher.
Assessment Task 5
Learning Outcomes: 1, 4
Basic Competency Test (BC)
The basic competency test is designed to ensure that every student in the class is able to use each of the key technologies that this class depends upon, including using the IDE, writing basic programs, testing them, and using git. This is a hurdle assessment: You must pass the basic competency test to complete this course. The basic competency test is waived for students who pass the lab test (LT), so in practice most students will not be asked to take this test.
Assessment Task 6
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Final Exam (E)
The final exam will be held online using gitlab and will comprise of auto-graded programming questions and multiple choice questions. This is a hurdle assessment: you must achieve a mark of at least 40% in the final exam to pass the course.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.
The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.
The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.
The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.
Online Submission
All deliverables that require submission will be done through gitlab. The last push made to your project before the due date will be what gets assessed.
Hardcopy Submission
This course does not have any hard-copy submissions.
Late Submission
This course has a firm deadline policy. Assignments are submitted via gitlab, and you will be assessed based on the work submitted by the deadline. Late submissions are not accepted. In cases where students are unable to make a deadline (e.g., through illness or misadventure), they should use ANU's special assessment consideration mechanism to ensure that their circumstances are properly accommodated through alternative assessment. Note also that several assessments are redeemable, so for those assessments marks can be made up in the final exam if a deadline is missed.
Referencing Requirements
The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.
Returning Assignments
Feedback for the main assignment deliverables will pushed back to the student's gitlab project. Minor deliverables are marked in-lab.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.
Resubmission of Assignments
Assignments may not be resubmitted.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.
Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.
Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.
Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Dr Paul Scott
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Instructor
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Dr Paul Scott
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